BYU Breakdown

Texas takes the field on Saturday evening in a matchup against the team that cost one Texas coach his job (Manny Diaz) and signaled the end to the career of Mack Brown. While the Longhorns are publicly stating that revenge won’t be a factor in preparation, you can be certain that it is at least in the back of the minds of those involved.

 

 

 

As Kylie Hopkins mentioned in her early season preview of BYU, Texas’ offense will be a key to the matchup. The Cougars consistently field a top 25 defense with schemes that can confuse ill prepared opponents.

 

 

 

For Texas to be successful, each unit must stick to assignments and follow through with what they’ve practiced throughout the week.

 

 

 

Matchup Key:

 

3 Helmets = Strong Advantage; 2 Helments = Average; 1 = Slight Advantage

 

 

 

Texas QB/WR/TE’s v. BYU DB’s

 

Tyrone Swoopes is slated to begin his career as the Texas signal caller against BYU. As HornSports.com’s Shannon Kelley pointed out in his article on preparing a 2nd string QB, there are several ways that the Longhorn coaches will be able to have Swoopes ready against BYU.

 

 

 

While the QB situation is an area of concern, John Harris has become a pleasant surprise for Texas as he helped to alleviate concerns of offseason losses at WR with a 7 rec, 110 yard, 1 TD performance against UNT.

 

 

 

Swoopes won’t be the only starter making his season debut in this game. BYU is reinstating 5 players who were suspended for their season opener, including starting CB Robertson Daniel and backup DB Jordan Johnson. With the two Cougars out last week, UConn was able to amass 284 passing yards, but did so rather inconsistently only completing 52% of their passes along with an interception thrown.

 

 

 

BYU is an aggressive defense that often tries to confuse the QB by bringing in a variety of blitzes from many angles. Texas should expect to see BYU’s defensive backs playing closer to the line of scrimmage in effort to stop the run, which will give Texas an opportunity to have man-to-man coverage without safety help.

 

 

 

Texas RB’s v. BYU LB’s

 

BYU is one of the few teams in college football that successfully runs a 3-4 defense, using 4 LB’s and 3 DL’s. In last week’s matchup against UConn, the Cougar run defense was impressive as they held the Huskies to 71 yards on 31 attempts.

 

 

 

BYU returns two starters at LB, Alani Fua and Bronson Kaufusi. The player to watch is Zac Stout, who led BYU in the UCONN game with 10 tackles and a sack. Stout returns to the team after being kicked off for off-field issues.

 

 

 

While BYU had great success against UConn, Texas’ running game will be a much more difficult task.

 

 

 

BYU will move the linebackers around the field and blitz from various positions, often bringing a linebacker and a CB from the same side at once.

 

 

 

Texas OL v. BYU DL

 

The loss of veteran center Dominic Espinosa is a big blow to an offensive line that, at times, struggled against an inferior North Texas defense. To make matters worse, starting OT’s Desmond Harrison and Kennedy Estelle will both be out due to suspension for this weekend’s game.

 

 

 

The Cougars front 3 consist of one returning starter, DE Remington Peck. While Marques Johnson returns to the lineup from suspension at NT, he will be backup to 6-2 285lb Sophomore Travis Tuiloma.

 

 

 

The Texas offensive line will face the three down linemen as well as a variety of looks from the linebackers. As previously mentioned, the Longhorns can expect to see a loaded box from the BYU defense with the goal of forcing Texas to pass and abandon the run.

 

 

 

Texas DB’s v. BYU QB/WR/TE’s

 

In the first game of the season, Taysom Hill looked like a star both rushing and passing the football. Hill threw for 308 yards and 3 TDs, while spreading the ball to 9 different receivers. The BYU passing offense was especially effective in including the RBs as they combined for 11 receptions and 1 TD.

 

 

 

Texas’ defensive backfield also proved to be a strength in their first game as the group combined to allow only 3 catches, while intercepting 2.

 

 

 

The Longhorns will be facing a multi-faceted offense with a QB that can run well and has the ability to pass. BYU will utilize play action passes and designed roll-out run option passes where Hill will roll and tuck it until he either gets close to the line or is being closed on by a defender, then throwing it to a receiver.

 

 

 

Texas LB’s v. BYU RB’s

 

Against UConn, BYU was without starting RB Jamaal Williams. With Williams returning from suspension, the RB position gets a big boost. The Cougars are obviously a team that features the QB in the rushing attack, but RB’s are also heavily involved in read plays as well as screens and routes out of the backfield.

 

 

 

The return of Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmond last week was a sight for sore eyes for Texas faithful. Fans also noted that the missed tackles from last year disappeared, and a positive contribution from reserve veteran, DeMarco Cobbs.

 

 

 

BYU’s rushing style is a combination of read option and pass/run options involving the quarterback. The offense relies on over-pursuit of linebackers to open up lanes for running or allowing a covered receiver to break open in attempt to rush the passer.

 

 

 

For Texas to be successful against the rushing attack of BYU, the linebackers will need to maintain their correct assignments and limit missed tackles. Over-pursuing on read plays will allow for Hill to tuck the ball and turn what would be a minimal gain by a running back into a 10-15 yard gain by him.

 

 

 

Texas DL v. BYU OL

 

BYU starts a relatively inexperienced offensive line which includes two freshmen (C Tejan Koroma, LT Ului Lapuaho). The strength of the line is the right side which returns Senior RT De’Ondre Wesley and RG Brock Stringham (who missed most of last season due to injury). The Cougar line paved the way for 206 yards rushing and allowed only one sack on 38 attempts last week.

 

 

 

Texas’ Defensive Line was spectacular against UNT in the season opening game. This weekend it will be tasked with disrupting the Cougar’s running game and taking up blocks to allow the LBs to make plays.

 

BYU’s offensive line is effective in moving the pocket around to allow the QB to find a lane when his passing options were limited.

 

 

 

Special Teams

 

As expected last week, Nick Rose had some struggles. He missed his first attempt of 38 yards after a delay of game penalty pushed him back but made his second from 34 yards. Will Russ did well in his first game, averaging 38.2 yards per punt while downing 2 within the 20 and adding a long 51 yard punt.

 

 

 

BYU also struggled in the FG department as kicker Trevor Samson missed his only attempt from 33 yards. Cougar punter Scott Arrellano, a rugby style punter, was effective as he also booted a long 51 yard punt and averaged 43 yards.

 

 

 

Both teams have their work cut out for them on special teams with placekicking being the main issue.

 

 

 

Advantage: Even